The Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund, a donor advised fund of the Mankato Area Foundation, was established in 2017 by Jonathan and Ginger Zierdt and a guiding coalition of engaged community leaders to build community cancer awareness and support.

“On behalf of our Executive Committee, Board of Advisors and Partners, we extend our heartfelt and deepest sympathies to Jonathan’s wife, Ginger and their family,” said Tami Paulsen, Director of the Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund. “Jonathan’s important and meaningful work in this community, his faith-filled, energetic personality and passion to make a difference, have impacted so many lives. His legacy of living Fully Alive and changing the cancer journey will continue and thrive through the JZCF.”.....Read Full Release

Box Love Campaign

In anticipation of the need for 1,000+ Caring Boxes each year, the JZCF has launched a major fundraising campaign called Box Love with a goal of raising $1,000,000.

We wish to thank all donors to our Box Love Campaign. We are especially grateful to our major gift donors and total donations of $5,000 or more will be recognized on a special Community of Caring Wall in the Mankato Area Foundation Building.

YOUR INVESTMENT WILL CHANGE THE CANCER JOURNEY

The Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund is committed to community cancer awareness and support. Here are just a few possible examples of how your investment will help change the cancer journey:

JZ Caring Box: The JZ Caring Box program donates specially designed care packages to our medical provider partners for distribution to patients diagnosed with cancer. Each JZ Caring Box contains items to provide support and comfort, and access to information and resources, to cancer patients, their families and caregivers.

Information and Resources: The Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund partners and collaborates with multiple organizations that provideimportant information, resources, and services to area cancer patients, their families and caregivers. Learn More

Join JZ!

Let's start building community cancer awareness today.

$5.00 of each item purchased is contributed to the Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund.

In the News

Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund Announces Box Love Campaign

The Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund (JZCF), a donor advised fund of the Mankato Area Foundation is pleased to announce the Box Love Campaign. In January 2018, the JZCF launched our signature program—the JZ Caring Box. The JZ Caring Box is designed for patients diagnosed with cancer and contains items to provide support and comfort as well as access to information and resources for patients, their families and caregivers. In anticipation of the need for 1,000+ Caring Boxes each year, the JZCF has launched a major fundraising campaign called Box Love with a goal of raising $1,000,000.

Mayo Clinic Health System Donates $6,500 to JZ Cancer Fund

KEYC, Mankato, MN (December 11, 2018) – Mayo Clinic Health System has donated $6,500 to the Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund. The gift will be used to fund the JZ Caring Box, which provides a specially designed care package for cancer patients, their families and caregivers. Each JZ Caring Box contains items to provide support and comfort, and access to information and resources. Since January, Mayo Clinic Health System has distributed nearly 800 Caring Boxes to area patients.

Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund

Jonathan's Journey

Jonathan was diagnosed with kidney and prostate cancer in November, 2013. While his kidney cancer has been in remission since the fall of 2014, the prostate cancer has been a much stronger foe. Since its onset, he has been in constant treatment including surgery, radiation and anti-hormone therapy, followed by additional radiation, chemotherapy, and ongoing anti-hormone therapy to treat metastatic prostate cancer in 2016.

However, in May 2018 a new, relatively sizeable prostate cancer mass has been identified in his former prostate bed. Unable to remove surgically or treat with radiation, the palliative option for treatment includes new rounds of chemotherapy treatments from June through September 2018, potentially followed by cryogenic surgery. (to learn more visit Jonathan’s CaringBridge site)

Throughout his journey Jonathan has been bolstered by remaining actively engaged in the community and his work, hoping as he says to “change the face of cancer.” Having received so much support during their cancer journey, this fund allows the greater community to engage with them in the fight against cancer.

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Who We Are

Since 1974, the Mankato Area Foundation has been dedicated to building a community of individuals that believe in the strength of giving. We continue today to shape Greater Mankato through connecting acts of giving with our community’s needs.